Newtown VFW Post celebrates 75th

John Pirro

Updated 10:01 pm, Sunday, March 2, 2014

Korean War veteran George Lockwood, of Newtown, during the Newtown, Conn, Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) Post 308 celebration of its 75th Anniversary on Sunday, March 2, 2014. Lockwood served in the Army during the Korean War and is the oldest member of VFW Post 308.
Photo: H John Voorhees III

Korean War veteran George Lockwood, of Newtown, during the Newtown,...

United States Senator Richard Blumenthal attended the Newtown, Conn, Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) Post 308 celebration of its 75th Anniversary on Sunday, March 2, 2014.
Photo: H John Voorhees III

United States Senator Richard Blumenthal attended the Newtown,...

Nick Andelicola, of Stratford, was at the Newtown, Conn, Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) Post 308 celebration of its 75th Anniversary on Sunday, March 2, 2014. Andelicola is a past Post Commander of Post 9460 Stratford and a World War II Army veteran.
Photo: H John Voorhees III

Nick Andelicola, of Stratford, was at the Newtown, Conn, Veterans...

Edward Zamm during the Newtown, Conn, Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) Post 308 celebration of its 75th Anniversary on Sunday, March 2, 2014. Zamm is a World War II Army veteran and past VFW State Commander.
Photo: H John Voorhees III

Edward Zamm during the Newtown, Conn, Veterans of Foreign War (VFW)...

Nancy Nicolett, of Newtown, the president of the Post 308 Ladies Auxiliary listens to a speech during the Newtown, Conn, Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) Post 308 celebration its 75th Anniversary on Sunday, March 2, 2014.
Photo: H John Voorhees III

Nancy Nicolett, of Newtown, the president of the Post 308 Ladies...

Eduarda Swilling-Wade applauds a speech during the Newtown, Conn, Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) Post 308 celebration its 75th Anniversary on Sunday, March 2, 2014. Swilling-Wade is past department president of the Department of Ladies Auxiliaries of the VFW.
Photo: H John Voorhees III

Mae Schmidle and her husband Bob Schmidle, of Newtown, during the Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) Post 308 celebration of its 75th Anniversary on Sunday, March 2, 2014. The Schmidle's read a letter during the ceremony, from their son Lieutenant General Robert E. Schmidle, Marine Corps, of Newtown, to the post congratulating them on their diamond jubilee.
Photo: H John Voorhees III

Mae Schmidle and her husband Bob Schmidle, of Newtown, during the...

Newtown Town Clerk Debbie Aurelia Halstead talks with veteran George Lockwood, of Newtown, during the Newtown, Conn, Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) Post 308 celebration of its 75th Anniversary on Sunday, March 2, 2014. Halstead is the veterans contact for the town of Newtown.
Photo: H John Voorhees III

Newtown Town Clerk Debbie Aurelia Halstead talks with veteran...

Edward Zamm,left, of Norwalk speaks to James Rebman, of Newtown, the Post Commander of Post 308, during the Newtown, Conn, Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) Post 308 celebration of its 75th Anniversary on Sunday, March 2, 2014. Zamm is a World War II Army veteran and past VFW State Commander. Rebman served in the Navy.
Photo: H John Voorhees III

Edward Zamm,left, of Norwalk speaks to James Rebman, of Newtown,...

Wall of Honor, displaying photos of members of Newtown, Conn, Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) Post 308 on Sunday, March 2, 2014.
Photo: H John Voorhees III

NEWTOWN -- Post 308 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars is more than a place where former members of the military can get together to have a few drinks, play some cards and swap stories about their time in uniform.

Over the years, it has earned a reputation for community involvement extending beyond the borders of Newtown, culminating in the Post 308's selection last year as the top post in Connecticut, according to the state VFW organization.

And on Sunday, more than 150 people, including veterans, their families and state and local dignitaries were on hand to celebrate the Post's Diamond Jubilee -- the 75th birthday of an organization whose members have continued a tradition of service and devotion to duty that began in 1939.

Whether they are raising money for families affected by the Sandy Hook shootings, providing college scholarships, talking to school children about Memorial Day and Veterans Day or placing American flags on the graves of former servicemen and women, the members of VFW Post 308 are the "military representatives of the Newtown community," Post Commander James Rebman said.

In the past year, Rebman said, the post also provided financial assistance to tornado victims in Oklahoma, organized a golf outing for first responders to the Sandy Hook tragedy and contributed $1,000 to the family of Michael Lansbury, a teacher and former Air Force Reservist who died protecting students during a school shooting in Nevada last October.

"It's a remarkable record of service," Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told the gathering. "Veterans continue to bring us together as a nation ... and that's one of the traditions of Post 308."

"The number one post in Connecticut is Post 308," said Richard Kennedy, Fairfield County District Commander of the VFW and one of several state officials of the organization who were on hand.

Founded by a group of 35 former servicemen, most of them World War I veterans, the post took the names of Dr. Charles H. Peck Sr., a surgeon from Newtown who served in the military, and his son, Charles Peck Jr., who was killed in the first World War.

The name of Eric Blantin, a Newtown High School graduate and the last town resident to die in Vietnam, was added some 30 years later.

The original post was destroyed by a fire in 1967 but was rebuilt, Rebman said, and now includes some 170 members, ranging from World War II veterans to those deployed in more recent conflicts.

It's supported by active men's and women's auxiliaries, Rebman said.

Among those attending Sunday was Maureen Crick Owen, a 12th generation Newtown resident who learned only last week from a newspaper article that her grandfather, James Crick, was one of the charter members of the post.

"It was really remarkable to learn that," she said. "I know my mother's family was here for a long time, but it was interesting to find out that my father's family was involved in the town's history, too."

Karen Freiberg's husband, Clayton served in Korea and joined the post about a year ago.

"I think it's a wonderful organization, and anything we can do to honor the veterans is so important," she said.